Camping out is one of the most exhilarating experiences in life. Moving away from home and having the freedom to live at a picturesque location of choice with nature at the door step is novel and exciting. But of course the wherewithal and amenities for this kind of living should be readily available to transform living outside your home into a comfortable and superlative experience.

The concept of caravan tourism has gained immense popularity across the globe owing to the freedom and flexibility it provides, while holidaying at a low cost. A caravan is an ‘all in one’ vehicle that makes it a unique tourism product and promotes group tours to a variety of destinations regardless of available hotel accommodation.

Considering the land area and the multitude of natural landscapes in Sri Lanka, caravanning and caravan parks are sure to add an exciting new facet to tourism in our scenic land. The initial demand for this concept is expected to come from domestic enthusiasts and followed by foreign travellers. The tourism sector will benefit by this new concept of holidaying which will bring in a new segment of travellers, ‘tourists caravaners’.

The dream of caravan holidaying is now realized with the caravan lifestyle being a possibility in Sri Lanka. This exciting adjunct to living was demonstrated at Nuwara Eliya in April with picturesque Lake Gregory in the foreground, a display of an exciting array of caravans and motorised homes that make living in the great outdoors a wonderful reality with many options to avail.
The pioneering company bringing this new trend to the Sri Lankan public is Go Outdoors Lanka Ltd., a subsidiary of Fairway Holdings. This caters to a large segment of people and families that prefer to tour at their own pace taking in the scenic beauty and going on nature trails sans the highly commercialised liaising with tour groups or hotel chains.

This gives the best opportunity for families to spend quality time together in the cosiness of a mobile home with the advantage of being off grid with no Wi-Fi for distractions. This trend is salutary in contrast to booking hotels at discounted rates that people invariably opt for on holidays leading to over indulgence in unhealthy food, with the kids being cooped up within walls minus the chance of exploring the precincts that lie beyond the hotel walls.

Go Outdoors Lanka is currently setting up caravan and camping parks in Kirinda, Yala, Udawalawe and Nuwara Eliya. Plans are afoot to establish more parks of this nature throughout the country and no less than 10 sites have been earmarked for completion by end of this year. These parks will have security, electricity, water and sanitation facilities and can be booked via gooutdoors.lk for a nominal fee.

This is also a business opportunity for aspiring businessmen and hoteliers to hire caravans and motor homes imported by Go Outdoors to holidaymakers who do not want to own one themselves, but like the experience of caravanning. The firm assurance is given of repair and maintenance of these units with the added benefit of them being parked for you if space is lacking or delivered to your place of choice.

The advent of holidaying on wheels in Sri Lanka has begun!